vertebral artery

Introduction

One of a pair of arteries in the neck supplying blood to the head & brain. The vertebral arteries are the first branches of the subclavian arteries. They join superiorly within the cranial vault to form the basilar artery.

Course

• the arteries pass through the transverse processes of the 1st 6 cervical vertebrae

More general terms

• artery

Additional terms

• vertebral artery dissection
• vertebral artery stent
• vertebrobasilar disease